Posted August 30, 2012

Sister Mary Pasquilina Scannapieco, I.H.M., formerly Maria Rose Scannapieco, died in Camilla Hall Nursing Home Aug. 20. She was 93 and in the 75th year of her religious life.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Transfiguration Parish in Philadelphia July 5, 1937 and professed first vows Aug. 15, 1940. Sister Mary graduated from West Catholic Girls’ High School in 1936. She received her undergraduate degree from Immaculata College, now Immaculata University, and her master’s from Villanova University.

Her active ministry in elementary education and administration as well as congregational leadership extended over 68 years. Among her assignments were St. Aloysius Academy from 1943 until 1960 and St. Philomena, Lansdowne, where she was local superior of the convent, principal of the school, and taught from 1962 to 1968.

At Holy Saviour Parish in Norristown, Sister Mary was local superior of the convent and taught in the school from 1968 to 1973. She was principal of the school and local superior from 1980 to 1986 at St. Madeline Parish, Ridley Park, and from 1986 to 1992 at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Philadelphia.

After retiring from classroom teaching, Sister Mary served as a school assistant at St. Cecilia School, Philadelphia, from 1994 until 2008 when she retired to Camilla Hall and a ministry of prayer.

The funeral Mass was celebrated at Camilla Hall Aug. 24 by Father Joseph F. Okonski, the principal celebrant. Priest concelebrants included Father Matthew Guckin, who was the homilist, Bishop Robert P. Maginnis, Msgr. Richard J. Skelly, Msgr. Michael J. Carroll and Fathers Thomas M. Sodano and William Dean. Interment followed in the Immaculata Cemetery.

In addition to her religious community, Sister Mary is survived by her sister-in-law, Kathryn Scannapieco, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her parents Pasquale and Rebecca McGettigan Scannapieco and her brother, Edward Scannapieco.